Nicholas Smith, Distinguished Historian of Native American Life and Culture, to Speak at Fogler Library
Contact: Gretchen Gfeller at 207-581-1696
Nicholas Smith, distinguished historian of Native American life and culture will visit the Raymond H. Fogler Library at the University of Maine on Thursday, Oct. 12. His presentation will begin at 3 p.m. in the Special Collections department. Smith was a founding member of the Maine Archaeological Society and the Ethnomusicology Society. His field work among the Maliseet and other Wabanaki groups has continued for over 50 years.
Smith is a graduate of the University of Maine and worked in Fogler Library as an undergraduate before being encouraged to go on to Columbia University where he earned a degree in Library Science. Smith became particularly interested in documents and manuscripts pertaining to the Wabanaki, and when a bundle of more than 100 related manuscripts was found at the Museum of the American Indian Huntington Free Library, Smith was asked to assess their research value, organize them, and lead the effort to preserve them. Smith’s field work has included opportunities to view and record the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Chief-Making Ceremonies and interview some of the last people who were married in the traditional fashion in Maliseet villages.
This event is co-sponsored by Fogler Library and the Native American Studies Program. Smith’s lecture is free and open to the public.